Internet Marketing News

Facebook reportedly set to launch autoplay video ads.The Financial Times has reported that Facebook is preparing to launch video ads that play automatically on user feeds. These ads may prove controversial with users and advertisers alike. Facebook reportedly plans to charge advertisers whether or not the user has activated the audio for the ads.Marketing Pilgrim

Mobile helps drive strong advertising growth for Facebook.Facebook's first quarter earnings report showed advertising revenue climbing by 43% year-over-year. Since advertising represents 85% of Facebook's total sales, this was instrumental to the firm's 39% increase in total revenue. Of particular note was the rise in mobile ad revenue, which is now about 30% of advertising sales. Mobile represented just 23% of ad revenue in the fourth quarter of 2012.MediaPost News

Strong mobile commerce growth could grab 25% of total U.S. e-commerce by 2017.Mobile commerce is expected to grow by 56.5% this year and post double-digit growth rates in each of the subsequent four years to reach a U.S. total of $108.56 billion, according to eMarketer. This growth would drive U.S. mobile commerce from 11% of total digital sales last year to 25% in 2017.eMarketer

The FTC clarifies consumer consent for automated text messages.The FTC has ruled that automated text messages from businesses to consumers fall into the same category as auto-dialed telemarketing calls, and thus are subject to the same restrictions. The FTC outlines what constitutes consent, and how consent may be requested -- note that an existing business relationship does not count. The new guidelines are slated to go into effect on October 16, 2013.ClickZ

Female customers may prefer to browse online rather than in-store.A March 2013 survey of 2,000 female Internet users in the U.S. found that only 6% primarily research products by visiting stores. SheSpeaks and Lippe Taylor found that 71% search the web on a PC or laptop as their primary means of product information, another 18% consult the web via smartphones and tablets, and the remaining 5% mainly ask for recommendations.eMarketer

In advertising revenue, TV still leads, but digital is catching up.While some traditional media have suffered from the gains made by digital advertising, TV ad revenue continues to grow, albeit slowly. For 2013, eMarketer projects that U.S. TV ad revenue could increase by 2.8% to reach $66.35 billion. In contrast, total digital ad revenue could climb from $37.30 billion in 2012 to $42.52 billion this year. The video segment is growing even faster, but is expected to end 2013 at less than 10% of the overall digital ad market.eMarketer

North America represents biggest chunk of the growing digital ad market.GroupM, a global media investment firm, projects worldwide spending in digital advertising could rise by about 14% in 2013, compared to a 16% growth rate in 2012. This year, global digital ad spending could climb to $113 billion. The forecast sees North America as holding the largest share of that market, representing $38 billion of the total, followed by Asia-Pacific at about $30 billion.ClickZ